2008-09 Athletes of the Year

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

"Megan McDonald, Joe Shardo Selected Female and Male Athletes of the Year"

Walsh University has selected Megan McDonald (5-10, Sr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) and Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) as Female and Male Athletes of the Year (2008-09) in a vote of University head coaches. McDonald led Walsh to the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament, while Shardo led the men's basketball team to their fifth straight NAIA National Tournament appearance. They will be honored at halftime of Walsh's home opening football game on Saturday, September 19 (12 pm) against Ohio Dominican University at Fawcett Stadium.

McDonald earned Second-Team NAIA All-American accolades in guiding the Cavaliers to a 29-13 overall record. Walsh won the American Mideast Conference regular season crown (13-1) and earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament, finishing 21st in the final NAIA poll. McDonald was named AMC Player of the Year, while also earning first-team Honors. Megan was also tabbed AMC Player of the Week four times. She was also named to the AVCA Northeast Region Team, while being selected the Northeast Region Player of the Year. McDonald averaged 4.01 kills per game (1st AMC/11th NAIA), totaling 602 for the year.

Shardo, who earned NAIA First-Team All-American and First-Team National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) State Farm Coaches' NAIA All-America teams honors led Walsh to 27 wins, a co-American Mideast Conference Championship and a fifth straight NAIA Tournament appearance. Shardo, who was named American Mideast Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-AMC, scored 788 points in his two years at Walsh after transferring from Missouri-Rolla. Shardo was a three-time AMC Player of the Week, and led the Cavs in scoring (18.6 ppg). Joe shot .510 from the field, .843 from the free throw line, averaged 6.5 rebounds, handed out 72 assists and had 37 steals. He scored 30 points or more in a single game four times, with a career high of 45 points against Ohio Dominican University. He scored 31 points in Walsh's AMC Tournament Championship win against Mount Vernon Nazarene University.